INFLUENCE OF NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES ON MENTAL HEALTH STATUS: THE REPRINTS STUDY

Abstract Although social engagement activities can help older adults maintain mental health status, whether negative attitudes toward volunteering influence poor mental health status due to psychological burdens has not been clarified. This study examined negative influence of intergenerational picture-book reading program “REPRINTS” on older volunteers’ attitudes to volunteering activities to clarify its impact on their mental health status. A questionnaire mail survey was conducted for 481 volunteers, ≥55 years, in 12 municipalities across Japan in 2020. Of the 423 respondents (87.9%), 266 responded to the follow-up survey, conducted from November 2021 to February 2022. Mental health status was assessed by WHO-5J; a score of less than 13 was regarded as poor mental health status. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed on the responses of 220 women, aged 65–84 years, with WHO-5J (good ≥13 points; poor < 13 points) at follow-up as the dependent variable. Participants were asked about their positive and negative attitudes toward volunteer activities using a four-point scale (disagree to agree), and the scores were operationally summed up after converting them into a negative attitude score. Subjective health (healthy/unhealthy), age, WHO-5J score, and continuous years of activity at baseline were entered as adjustment variables. Sixty-four (29.1%) participants had a WHO-5J score of < 13 at baseline. Logistic regression analysis with WHO-5J as the dependent variable showed that the adjusted odds ratio for negative awareness scores was 1.06 (95% CI: 1.00-1.12). In conclusion, negative attitudes toward volunteer activities were suggested to have a significant influence on mental health status.


2019
).The research aims were to investigate 1) the impact of elder abuse on anxiety among community-dwelling older adults who experienced elder abuse, 2) the effects of social support on anxiety among older adults, and 3) the differences in the impact of elder abuse, anxiety, and social support between older men and women.This study used data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS), Wave 3. Structured equation modeling was used for the analysis.The independent variable was the experience of elder abuse, the dependent variable was anxiety, and the intervening variable was social support.The control variables were income, physical health, and marital status.The experience of elder abuse had a positive association with anxiety, however; social support had a negative association with anxiety.Multi-group analysis was conducted to investigate gender differences.Measurement invariance was examined by comparing unconstrained and fully constrained models.Both models were good fits.Gender differences were identified.Implications will be discussed.

GENDER-SPECIFIC ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DEPRESSION AND MORTALITY IN KOREAN OLDER ADULTS: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY
Jungwon Cho, Jae Jun Lee, and Eunhee Cho, Yonsei University College of Nursing, Seoul, Republic of Korea Late-life depression has become a significant public health problem because it adversely affects physical health, social function, and quality of life.Therefore, prevention and treatment of depression are necessary.Previous studies have indicated that depression in older adults is associated with mortality.However, research on mortality according to gender differences has not been actively conducted.Thus, this study aims to investigate gender differences between depression and mortality among Korean older adults.The data were collected from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA), which performed a nationwide aging panel survey for adults aged over 45 years between 2006 and 2020.Out of 10,254 participants, this study included 3,689 participants who were aged 65 or older and assessed depression through CESD-10.The Cox proportional-hazards model was used to calculate Hazard Ratios (HR) for mortality stratified by gender.Of the 1,599 male and 2,090 female older adults, depression was significantly higher in females (16.7%) than in males (8.8%).However, the effect of depression on mortality was significant only in males (male: HR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.19-1.89;female: HR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.93-1.31).Depression is more common in females, whereas the effect of depression on mortality was only significant in males.This suggests that health providers need to prevent and care for depression to decrease mortality, especially in males.Further studies are needed to explore the reasons for gender differences between depression and mortality and develop interventions to manage depression in older adults.
Hiroyuki Suzuki 3 , 1. Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 2. Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 3. Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan Although social engagement activities can help older adults maintain mental health status, whether negative attitudes toward volunteering influence poor mental health status due to psychological burdens has not been clarified.This study examined negative influence of intergenerational picture-book reading program "REPRINTS" on older volunteers' attitudes to volunteering activities to clarify its impact on their mental health status.A questionnaire mail survey was conducted for 481 volunteers, ≥55 years, in 12 municipalities across Japan in 2020.Of the 423 respondents (87.9%), 266 responded to the follow-up survey, conducted from November 2021 to February 2022.Mental health status was assessed by WHO-5J; a score of less than 13 was regarded as poor mental health status.Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed on the responses of 220 women, aged 65-84 years, with WHO-5J (good ≥13 points; poor < 13 points) at follow-up as the dependent variable.Participants were asked about their positive and negative attitudes toward volunteer activities using a four-point scale (disagree to agree), and the scores were operationally summed up after converting them into a negative attitude score.Subjective health (healthy/unhealthy), age, WHO-5J score, and continuous years of activity at baseline were entered as adjustment variables.Sixty-four (29.1%) participants had a WHO-5J score of < 13 at baseline.Logistic regression analysis with WHO-5J as the dependent variable showed that the adjusted odds ratio for negative awareness scores was 1.06 (95% CI: 1.00-1.12).In conclusion, negative attitudes toward volunteer activities were suggested to have a significant influence on mental health status.

INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR DIVERSE COMMUNITY OLDER ADULTS
Tobi Abramson 1 , Jo Anne Sirey 2 , and Jacquelin Berman 3 , 1. NYC Department for the Aging, Greenvale, New York, United States, 2. Weill Cornell Medicine, Ithaca, New York, United States, 3. NYC Department for the Aging (NYC Aging), New York City, New York, United States Addressing the triple stigma (age, mental health, race) faced by older adults in need of mental health services has necessitated innovations that move the service provision needle.Co-located services within community settings, mental health interventions addressing those with nutritional needs, and victims of elder abuse and elder crime benefit from innovative services.The following session will highlight research outcomes from innovative treatment models: (a) In a sample of 138 diverse individuals participating in PROTECT (a brief behavioral intervention for late-life depression among elder abuse/crime victims) showed 5.15 point reductions in PhQ-9 scores across the sample and found video-delivery was non-inferior to traditional in-person therapy.Those receiving video therapy completed treatment faster, with more rapid rate of symptom reduction.(b) Do More Feel Better (a 9-week peer-led manualized intervention for those with depression and nutritional needs) found 78% experienced clinically significant reduction in depressive symptoms and over two-thirds (66%) reported satisfaction with the program.(c) DGMH (mental health services co-located in older adult centers) data indicate that of the 4,118 clients assessed, 3,373 endorsed at least one mental health need (81.9%), significantly higher than the mental health literature indicates.Over 2,133 clients have been treated in 67,597 sessions since program inception in 2018.Within 3-months of treatment, 60.8% and 52% showed clinically significant improvements in depression and anxiety, respectively.A third reported decreased loneliness and 39.4% indicated feeling less socially isolated.Further data will be presented (demographic, racial, ethnic differences).Data supported efficacy lend support to innovative mental health treatment approaches.

INTERGENERATIONAL REMINISCENCE PROGRAM IN IMPROVING GENERATION CONNECTIONS: A RADAR ANALYSIS
Ling Xu 1 , and Minjaal Raval 1 , 1.The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, United States Objectives: Intergenerational solidarity between grandparents and grandchildren has been highlighted in Asian Families and it is beneficial for the health of grandparents.An intergenerational reminiscence program was developed to improve the well-being of Asian American older adults as well as generational bonding.This paper qualitatively reported the weekly reflection from grandchild participants of this program.Methods: Older grandparents received 6 sessions of life-review with their grandchildren remotely or in person for approximately 1 hour each week for 6 weeks.Each grandchild (n = 12) provided written reflection each week after talking with grandparent.The qualitative data were organized and analyzed using the five phases of the Rigorous and Accelerated Data Reduction (RADaR) technique.Results: Results showed three categories with themes.Category 1: Positive experience.The grandchildren expressed: (1) more connection with grandparent, (2) learn more about grandparent's past life experience, and (3) have more engagement.Category 2: Strategy to lead the discussion.The grandchildren thought the following good ways in facilitating their weekly conversation with grandparents: (1) taking notes, (2) using guiding question in the manual; (3) use translators, (4) spending time together.Category 3: Challenging experience.The grandchildren felt challenges regarding: (1) over explaining things, (2) language or vocabulary barriers, (3) broad topic.Discussion: The reflection pages from grandchild participants showed that intergenerational reminiscence program is promising in bonding the grandparent-grandchild relationship and connection.They also gained knowledge and experienced challenges when talking with their grandparents during the program.